Comments on: Boston Bike News

By: Adam Pieniazek

Adam Pieniazek — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:10:59 +0000

It’s not the only reason Casey, but for a certain segment of the driver population, yes, their insurance rates are the number one reason for driving cautiously. Of course, we could assume that no one wants to seriously injure or kill someone, but I bet there are some (immature?) drivers who could care less about other people.

I’ve been a passenger in vehicles where the driver seems to almost want to hit someone thinking it wouldn’t be there fault. Almost a “that’ll teach them a lesson to bike on the road” mentality. It’s a minority, I hope, but the mentality does exist.

It’s a helpful reminder and it does make the roads at least seem friendlier for bikers.

By: Casey @ OYFP

Casey @ OYFP — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:44:12 +0000

So the only reason cars avoid bikers is because they’re afraid of insurance rates skyrocketing? That sucks. I would hope that they wouldn’t want to injure or kill someone.

Bike lines are a helpful reminder for drivers. Sometimes towns do make roads wider in order to put bike lanes in.

By: Adam Pieniazek

Adam Pieniazek — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:50:10 +0000

Though I agree with you Heidi, and for sure feel that bike lanes serve to caution the driver, wouldn’t you still fear hitting a biker even if there were bike lanes? It’s not like bike lanes add more area to the roads, in fact they make the roads smaller for cars so there’s a smaller margin for error. Personally, I feel the bike lanes are best for aggressive drivers who don’t fear hitting a bicyclist. Those drivers then see the bike lanes and it hits a trigger for them to slow down unless they want their insurance rates to skyrocket. In other words, I don’t think you’re the kind of driver who honks at me to move over when I’m already practically grinding the curb. The bike lanes serve to show those drivers that there’s plenty of road for all of us to share. Just my personal take on the matter. I also think some drivers might avoid roads with bike lanes, which would make those roads safer for everyone involved if true.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:27:03 +0000

I wish we had bike lanes here. I get nervous that I am going to hit somebody on accident. It is like on of my worst fears. I admire bikers and think it would be great to have those around here.

By: Adam Pieniazek

Adam Pieniazek — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:40:34 +0000

Emphasis on the ideal conditions Casey! Seems those ideal condition days are few and far between around here!

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:35:45 +0000

At least someone’s reading what I write. Two miles is a breeze of a commute – during ideal conditions. I bet with enough biking I’ll become hardcore enough to get one of those crazy commuter bikes without gears! One can dream…

By: Adam Pieniazek

Adam Pieniazek — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:26:45 +0000

Yeah, I was a bit tough on you Casey! I know the T sucks from years of riding it and I certainly know that two miles can be quite the long walk/bike ride so I can emphasize with driving especially in the rain.

Bike lanes seem to work more to alert the driver than to give the biker more room so it works (from my personal driver and biker experiences). Usually when I’m biking I’ll take up as much of the lane as I need but wider berths help in cause of potholes etc. Studies done on bike lanes show it can go either way but it seems they help.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:05:14 +0000

Based on your reaction to my blog post about my first time biking to work, I would have been afraid to admit to you that I don’t bike to work already and need a used bike!

Great news, though, about the bike lanes. When I am in my pollution-mobile I try to give bikers a wide berth, especially when there are no bike lanes.